There has been great fear, according to the newspapers, of what the 1st of May will bring forth. They say that there was a great exodus from Paris of timid people. We saw and heard nothing of it. We left when we had accomplished what we had in view in coming to Paris, & it happened to be the day before the 1st May, but we saw no signs of flight or of apprehension. The train was not crowded & we had an apartment to ourselves. At Orleans we visited a nursery, and then came on the same day to Blois, where we chanced upon an interesting old French inn, with a courtyard and smell of the stables and a fine view of the Loire. At 6 o’ck I was awakened by drums saying here is the 1st of May and the Anarchist revolution. I leaped out to the window and saw passing two drums and four bugles and eight red trousered soldiers without arms. Then I went to sleep and was soon roused again by bugles. This time, after the music passed four soldiers drawing a hand pump on wheels and four in line as a rear guard, and I recognized a detachment of sappeur—the fire department. Others passed later and there was noise of a crowd & some outcry in the streets, but I did not rise until my hot water & boots came. Then I found that there were two or three dozen blouses, two carrying the morning papers; others offering handbills to passersby, and others jabbering and gesticulating. When we went out we found that we were next door to a polling place, & that the municipal election was in progress, and that is the only sign we have seen of anything unusual or of any apprehension of trouble or excitement, except in the newspapers. I believe they say that the only dynamite explosion in France was one in this place which did no harm except to the dynamitard, who is in hospital.

The weather is still cold and damp, with showers today, and I am hoarse and otherwise not quite free of my Shrewsbury cold. But I am having a great deal of enjoyment, and I hope laying in a good stock of better health. I get tired & leg weary, but not enough to prevent me from getting rather more sleep on the whole than I get at home, and getting up fully recovered from fatigue. I have a good appetite without much tonic-taking, and the diet exactly suits me. Rick and Phil both very well and indefatigable in taking care of me. We have visited four of the notable chateaux of the Loire; all interesting apart from their historical monumental interest. That of Amboise, the most so, much. But I think that I am more interested on the whole in the peasant life & peasant villages that we pass through. As a rule they are, on the whole, very dreary but today, in going out to a country seat which M. Andre advised us to see, we found one that had a little of the quality of an English village with a strong French flavor, and an interesting old historic church. Interested also in the farms and rural life. Phil & Rick are accumulating very valuable stores. But [522]as to landscape & gardening; it is chiefly what to avoid. Phil is zealous and his tastes & intuitions are excellent. Rick is gaining as much perhaps & is doing well, but he is much more boyish.

We had expected to find Miss Bryant at the Hotel but she had returned to Paris, (crossing us on the road I suppose), leaving a letter for Marion, whom she probably supposed to be with us. We have forwarded it to Chiselhurst.

We go to Angiers tonight, to leave on the 5th for the North but our plans are not well defined. Probably Harry, Hannah & Marion will join us at Torquay for a little trip thro Devonshire & Black Forest about the 11th inst.

Your affectionate husband.